1. The Moslem (Muslim) Empire

2. The Religion of Islam The Five Pillars The Quran- Religious text
Confession of Faith
“There is no other God but Allah and Mohammed is his Prophet.”
Prayer
Muslims must pray five times a day, while facing East, towards Mecca.
Charity
Muslims must give money to the poor and pay taxes to the mosque
Fasting
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims cannot eat or drink during daylight.
Pilgrimage
If physically able, a Muslim must make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

3. Islamic Caliphates
After Mohammed died, a group of Muslim leaders chose a new leader, whom they called a Caliph.
After some instability with early caliphs, the Umayyad Caliphate was founded.
Most Muslims followed this caliphate. They became known as Sunnis.
The small group of Muslims who did not follow the Umayyad Caliphate were known as Shiite Muslims. They believed only Mohammed’s decedents could be Caliphs.
They moved the capital to Damascus
A new caliph formed, the Abbasids, after 750
Focused on trade rather than war
Built new capital at Baghdad

4. Islamic Cultural Achievements
Madrassas- Islamic School
Mosque- Place of worship
Merchant economy- economy based on trade
Sharia- practical guide to Muslim daily life
Sultanate- kingdom ruled by sultan
Theocracy- ruled with religion
Universalizing religion- a religion that seeks to include all people

5. Islamic Caliphate and India
In the 11th and 12th centuries, Turkish Muslims invaded India
Muslims established independent kingdoms in Northern India known as Sultanates.
The most famous were the Sultans of Delhi
Unlike prior conquerors, the Muslims never fully adopted Indian ways.
At the end of the 14th century the Mongol ruler Tamerlane destroyed the city of Delhi and slaughtered its inhabitants. The Delhi Sultanate never fully recovered from this blow.

6. Mughal Empire
In 1526, Babur, a descendant of both Tamerlane and Chinggis Khan defeated the Sultan of Delhi and founded the Mughal Empire in India.
The most famous Mughal ruler was Akbar the Great.
Her set out to unite all Muslim and Hindu subjects by promoting religious toleration.
Ended special Taxes paid by Hindus
Made use of Hindu officials in government
Encouraged cultural improvement
His grandson, Shah Jahan showed less sympathy to Hindus.
Reinstated special taxes paid by Hindus
Ordered destruction of many Hindu sites
Under him many converted to Islam
Under his the Taj Mahal was built- a tomb for his wife.